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FROM THIS EPISODE

The so-called "Arab Spring" began with peaceful protests that led to hopes of non-violent revolution in Tunisia and Egypt. In Syria and Libya, dissent has led to bloody repression and civil war. We update the process of accomplishing change in the Arab Middle East. Also, President Obama looks for ways to revive a sputtering economy. On Reporter's Notebook, is a healthy diet only available to those who can afford it?

Banner image: Egyptians carry posters showing Egypt's ousted president, Hosni Mubarak, behind a noose as they gather outside the court set up in the Cairo Police Academy, August 03, 2011 for his trial and that of his two sons. Photo by Marwan Naaman/AFP/Getty Images

The debt ceiling debacle is over, but the latest news about jobs, the stock markets and the economy in general is as grim as ever. Today, President Obama is celebrating his 50th birthday. Next week, he'll get out of Washington and talk about new efforts to create new jobs. Michael Shear reports from Washington for the New York Times and he's chief correspondent for the Caucus blog.

During a month dedicated to religious commitment, the government of Syria is killing its own people and Libya's in the midst of outright civil war. In Egypt, Hosni Mubarak is being subjected to public trial, accused of ordering the killings of peaceful dissenters in January, before their movement forced him from office. Continued repression by his military successors has peaceful dissenters talking about different tactics. Real change may be under way in the Arab World after decades of brutal repression, but what will it take to satisfy the demand for real change after 30 years of corruption and brutal repression? Will the model be the "velvet revolutions" of Eastern Europe or the historic violence required in France, the US and, more recently, in Iran?

What used to be called the Food Pyramid was updated last year with a recommended diet that includes Potassium, dietary fiber, Vitamin D and Calcium. The image of that plate of salmon, leafy greens and maybe some rice pilaf may be designed to promote healthy eating, but a new survey says that could add hundreds more dollars to the average grocery bill, making it unaffordable for many Americans. That's according to a study published today in the Journal of Health Affairs. Pablo Monsivais, a researcher at the Center for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Washington, is the lead author.